Road to middle income is sustainable governance
On January 1, 2016, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals. Interesting considering that we as a country were lacking regarding the MDGs, let alone the NRM 10-Point Programme. As I write this piece, I know there is no guarantee that it will not be treated like the numerous probe reports - shelved!
There is a much higher chance that another district will be announced before some of the key ailments in this country are fixed without considering that Parliament can no longer accommodate those that have already been created. We have invested in roads, but what are we transporting? How have those roads improved our agriculture sector performance?
We had Naads and now Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), but what were the outcomes of the former? If it was successful, ‘rebranding’ it to OWC wouldn’t be necessary. There is a high chance of people ‘accessing’ the funds issued through extension services at the local bars than through improved services. We have had the armyworm in Uganda for decades disguised as enemies of human progress.
Sustainability is achieved through creating an environment that will stand the test of time, not by throwing money at every problem that arises. I have read that the President’s budget for donations will be increased, but doesn’t he tire of traffic heading your way in form of good cadres?
The worst form comes in those seeking tax exemptions while hiring low numbers on basic pay coupled with poor finance management. Their contribution comes in further weakening the economy. On the same note, what is the criterion for a bailout?
When was the last time the government went without a ministry requesting for supplementary budget? Should the road to middle income be this wasteful - an entire journey without addressing the leak? Do we have so much hope in oil that we just don’t care how we get there? Is corruption such a big well lubricated sector that it has advisors on its classified, miscellaneous and supplementary budgets?
Uganda has been cited as the leading entrepreneurial country in the world, but did the researchers mention the currency points used?
Unfortunately, exposure, opinions, time; an unemployed population definitely has time! Time, exposure and opinions aren’t trading on any commodities exchange and pay no bills, . All one can do is to invest time in entrepreneurship, applying for jobs while patiently awaiting for a rolex to be inserted in their transcript and CV. Numerous entrepreneurs are often frustrated by the ever rising taxes and a poor environment in which they operate. The current State is limiting people’s options to theft, murder, and betting among others.
Think-tanks have cropped up with some masquerading as gay (with all due respect to them) just to receive funding and survive. You might say many Ugandans are still going to the bar.
Happy hour was probably invented so that people can drink their problems away at a discount only to wake up with the same problems staring back at them. Budget presentation is done. We hope that as Finance ministers shows that the taxable income viz a vis ‘taxable population’ has increased to meet the increasing taxes they introduce every financial year. Someone has to pay back for the huge donations and tax exemptions that the President makes. That is where the bottom of the pyramid comes in - those that are provide yellow shirts and pilawo once every five years! Steady Progress it is called.
The State-of-the-Nation Address at Serena - with the donors cutting funding, wouldn’t dissolving Parliament to a few people sitting in Kyankwanzi reduce wasteful expenditure on current count?
What we need now is a clear plan to reduce the income inequality gap.
You’re the visionary; it’s about time you hit the gym and lost ‘weight’ in the form of hangers-on limiting you from seeing what is openly around you. We shall do PR in the election year for right now the population can’t handle the bill!
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